education

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Students' academic growth will carry greater weight in evaluating Virginia schools under a new plan the state has submitted for federal approval.

The plan lays out how Virginia will comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The law signed by President Barack Obama revamps the widely criticized No Child Left Behind Act and gives states more control over schools and education policy.

U.S. News and World Report has put Salisbury University on its list of the Best Colleges for 2018.

There are 620 universities in the Best Regional Universities category which is divided geographically into North, South, Midwest and West.

The criteria ranges from academic reputation and graduation rates to financial resources and student selectivity.

Dr. Karen Olmstead, the university’s interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, noted that for the last two decades SU has been named one of the top regional universities by the publication.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A $4 million grant from the Department of Defense has been awarded to a Virginia school district.

The nonprofit National Math and Science Initiative said it will announce details of the funding for the Virginia Beach school district Friday.

The money will help boost student learning in math, science and English courses. Specifically, the funding will provide training and equipment to teachers with advanced placement classes in those subjects.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - House lawmakers are taking a first look at a bill that would allow school districts in Delaware to raise taxes without the approval of local residents.

The bill to be considered in committee on Wednesday allows local school boards, starting in tax year 2018, to increase the rate or amount of a tax originally authorized in an election without going back to voters.

The increase would be limited to the higher of a rate equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, or a rate of 3 percent every two years without a further election or referendum.

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Democratic House and Senate leaders have told the legislature's budget-writing committee to halt its work amid concerns about spending cuts the panel has approved.

House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and Senate president David McBride instructed the Democratic co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee on Wednesday to cancel a Thursday work session to allow legislative leaders from both parties to continue discussions on raising additional revenue to balance the upcoming budget.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Gov. Larry Hogan will deliver remarks at the first Governor's Business Summit.

It's scheduled for Thursday in Baltimore.

The governor's opening address is called: "Maryland is Open for Business."

Leaders in business and education are scheduled to attend.

They will be gathering to discuss topics like entrepreneurship and the future of manufacturing in Maryland. They also will talk about redefining urban centers across the state and the next generation of learning environments.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on a legislative session that has been full of measures aimed at countering President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress.

The Democrat-led legislature, which adjourns at midnight Monday, has passed legislation aimed at protecting health care from cuts in Washington.

It also has empowered the attorney general to sue the federal government without the governor's permission. And the attorney general will get an extra $1 million a year in future budgets to help pay expenses to do that.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Supporters of a plan approved by Maryland lawmakers to identify and assist struggling schools in Maryland are speaking out against Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of the measure.

Lawmakers and representatives of the state's teachers union are gathering Thursday morning in Annapolis.

The Republican governor vetoed the bill on Wednesday. He says it's too lax on academic performance standards, caves in to special interests and makes it "nearly impossible" for the state to fix struggling schools.

DOVER, Del. (AP/DPR) - Delaware Gov. John Carney says his first months in office have brought into sharp focus the struggles the state must deal with.

Carney, a Democrat, says the General Assembly has been dealing with a nearly $400 million budget deficit.

"If we're going to tackle the tough issues that confront us, we need to get our financial house in order. We need a budget reset, a new plan to set us on a stronger financial footing and make our state more competitive."

There will be more flexibility in Delaware’s new education plan for schools for accountability and funding.

In addition, there will be a five star rating performance system.

But the plan did get some opposition from the Delaware State Education Association.

State Representative Kim Williams, vice chair of the Education Committee, questioned the fairness of the system because of school choice with some schools having a larger group of higher performing students.

A final draft is expected to be submitted to the federal Department of Education later this spring.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - State officials are distributing legal guidance to local school districts on immigration-related issues in response to President Donald Trump's recent executive actions.

Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples sent a memo Wednesday to local superintendents with the advice.

The memo emphasizes that districts must provide a high-quality education for every student, regardless of immigration status. It also says school divisions cannot inquire into a prospective student's citizenship status.